• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Kenwood KD 500 vs Rega Planar 3

mozcho

mozcho

Well-Known Member
Hi all, I have a choice between these two used tables:

Kenwood KD 500 with SME Series III arm and Shure cartridge

Rega Planar 3 with RM300 arm

The Kenwood costs a little more than the Rega, note: the Rega is the old Planar 3 not the new RP3. Other than one being a direct drive and the other a belt driven, which one will be more worth it in terms of sound quality?
 
Register to hide this ad
I'd go with the Kenny.

I have a KD-650 with the Kenwood arm, which is quite a nice one. I've also owned 2 original Planar 2 with a Grace 707 each, one of them for about 20 years, or the longest I've had anything. I recently got another old Planar 2 with the old Rega Acos arm and I'm going to fix the anti-skate belt plus hot rod it with Tangospinner and other upgrades. I'm doing all of that that largely as a labour of love experiment, but I'd still recommend the Kenwood.
 
Kenwood, arm is the key, the SME is much better. Although you will be a bit limited to using more compliant cartridges with the SME III arm. The older Rega tables do have a speed problem, run a bit fast also so a speed control may be needed.
 
No question for me- get the Rega. I have the same table and love it. Get an Edward's Audio belt to solve the speed issue
 
Great Direct Drive table, updated Low Mass classic tonearm or an off the shelf newer unit.

I'll take the classic all day long. No speed issue with that table when it is properly working and the speed controls are clean. Nice adjustable speed, too. I like the KD-500 and would have one except I couldn't find one when I was looking and bought a KD-650 and then a KD-600 (armed and armless successor to the KD-500) and stopped looking. I like the ergonomics, dust cover, variable speed of the 500 better than the 600.

The KD-500/SME is a high end turntable, worthy of some great associated gear.
 
I've spent some time (several weeks) with a KD-500 in my system. But it had an Infinity Black Widow arm on it. I also owned a Rega Planar 2 with an RB250 arm. So neither of them exactly what you're looking at, but FWIW, if sonic performance was my priority, the Rega would be my clear preference. But it really depends on what you want in a 'table. If you're going to sit in the dark in your sweet spot and get all tingly at the 3-dimentioal sound stage spread out large in front of you, then I'd go with the the Rega. OTOH, if you like the looks and pedigree of that particular vintage DD 'table, and you'd enjoy interacting with it (The Rega really is just an arm stuck on an MDF plank with not automation and no adjustment to think of) then go with the Kenwood.

What's the price difference between the two you're looking at? The Planar 3 is a $1,200 'table. Looks like there are KD-500s out there for around $400. If you can get a Planar 3 for $400, it makes it an easier choice.
 
Brett a said:
I've spent some time (several weeks) with a KD-500 in my system. But it had an Infinity Black Widow arm on it. I also owned a Rega Planar 2 with an RB250 arm. So neither of them exactly what you're looking at, but FWIW, if sonic performance was my priority, the Rega would be my clear preference. But it really depends on what you want in a 'table. If you're going to sit in the dark in your sweet spot and get all tingly at the 3-dimentioal sound stage spread out large in front of you, then I'd go with the the Rega. OTOH, if you like the looks and pedigree of that particular vintage DD 'table, and you'd enjoy interacting with it (The Rega really is just an arm stuck on an MDF plank with not automation and no adjustment to think of) then go with the Kenwood.

What's the price difference between the two you're looking at? The Planar 3 is a $1,200 'table. Looks like there are KD-500s out there for around $400. If you can get a Planar 3 for $400, it makes it an easier choice.
Click to expand...

He said old Planar 3 with RM300 (RB?) arm. That table came out in 1976 and the arm a few years later. That really was just an MDF plank with a slab of glass on it, and not IMO a $1200 table. :)
 
I own an old Planar 2, Montycat is correct, the early Planar 3 is not worth no $1200. The Kenwood's a way better built turntable, outperforms any Rega built then or now, and the arm on the Kenwood is one of the best ever built. It needs no stinking Upgrades to do it's job. Just care and love.
 
The combination of that model of Kenwood and the SME III should be really sweet. Not a ghost of a chance of a plain-Jane old Planar 3 coming anywhere near it.
 
To the degree that ergonomics is important (and it really is with turntables), the SME III is a lovely arm to use (less so to set up, but way better than the Rega arms). I had a KD 500 with an SME IIIS, and it was a wonderful combo with the sort of high compliance cartridges that were contemporaneous with it. Compliances have calmed down since the, but the ADCs, Shures, Pickerings, Stantons, and so on that suited the arm are still highly regarded and after market styli are excelllent and available (not so much for the AKGs, which were my love).
The dustcover on the KD500 is a weak point - it tends to crack in the middle, and spring loaded pivots loosen and fail.
 
Nat said:
To the degree that ergonomics is important (and it really is with turntables), the SME III is a lovely arm to use (less so to set up, but way better than the Rega arms). I had a KD 500 with an SME IIIS, and it was a wonderful combo with the sort of high compliance cartridges that were contemporaneous with it. Compliances have calmed down since the, but the ADCs, Shures, Pickerings, Stantons, and so on that suited the arm are still highly regarded and after market styli are excelllent and available (not so much for the AKGs, which were my love).
The dustcover on the KD500 is a weak point - it tends to crack in the middle, and spring loaded pivots loosen and fail.
Click to expand...
I haven't owned a SME III, but from what I've read they can be made to carry less compliant carts effectively as well. A DL-103 isn't going to be happy, but there are quite a few of the more compliant MCs could be made to perform nicely.
 
fiddlefye said:
...there are quite a few of the more compliant MCs could be made to perform nicely.
Click to expand...
My Magnepan Unitrac I at about 7 grams effective mass has a Dynavector 23R and it works very well. There are a few LOMC cartridges that would work with the SME III.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom